Muliaage Official Residence

Construction of Muliaage began in 1912 on the ancestral land of the Muliaage royal house, directly opposite Medhu Ziyaaraiy. It was designed in an elegant colonial bungalow style by Sri Lankan architects commissioned by King Muhammad Shamsuddeen III for Crown Prince Hassan Izzuddine. However, political turmoil struck in 1934, resulting in the dethronement of Shamsuddeen III and the arrest of Prince Izzuddine, who was exiled and died abroad before ever living in his palace.

During World War II, Muliaage served as the government center, and in 1953, it became the official residence of Mohamed Amin Didi, the first President of the short-lived first Republic of the Maldives. Over subsequent decades, Muliaage housed the Prime Minister's office, the Supreme Court, and presidential guests before being designated as the primary official presidential residence. Having hosted monarchs, revolutionaries, and world leaders across a century of change, Muliaage remains a central monument of modern Maldivian governance. In addition to its primary historical records, local oral archives and regional chronicles underscore how Muliaage Official Residence served as a crucial locus of community identity during pivotal shifts in Maldivian society. Throughout successive generations, island elders maintained detailed oral traditions regarding the site's foundation, ensuring that its historical legacy remained vibrant despite changing political regimes and evolving maritime trade routes across the Indian Ocean.

The tragic fate of Prince Hassan Izzuddine, who was arrested and exiled before ever moving into his newly constructed home, inspired long-standing royal ghost legends in Malé. Local lore claims that the prince's grief lingering across the ocean returned to haunt the halls of his intended palace.

Another legend involves the ancient wells within the palace courtyard, built directly over older royal foundations. Old palace servants passed down stories of a protective palace jinn summoned during the reign of Shamsuddeen III to guard state documents and shield the residence against political coups and foreign espionage.

Staff legends also whisper about a phantom royal sentry who walks the veranda at night. Clad in early 20th-century ceremonial dress, the ghost is said to inspect every doorway to ensure no trespassers cross the royal thresholds, quietly fading into the shadows whenever approached by living guards. These royal traditions endow the historic presidential residence with an enduring aura of mystery.

Old residents of Henveiru ward also recall stories of royal carriages heard rattling along the stone driveway on humid nights when the palace gates were securely locked, attributed to the spirit of King Shamsuddeen III returning to visit his beloved son's residence. These stories remain a beloved part of Malé's urban folklore, frequently shared among local tour guides, historians, and night sentries who keep watch over the capital city's landmark royal estate.

Palace staff, security guards, and ceremonial sentries stationed at Muliaage over the decades have reported subtle paranormal occurrences. Late at night, sentries along the perimeter walls have reported seeing a figure in traditional early 20th-century royal attire walking through the veranda corridors when all residents were asleep.

Other reported phenomena include soft piano music playing from empty drawing rooms, doors clicking shut independently, and unseen footsteps ascending the grand wooden staircase. Staff working in the historic administrative wing also report sudden temperature drops and the distinct scent of rosewater and pipe tobacco. These atmospheric reports have been consistently corroborated by fishermen, night caretakers, and visiting researchers over many decades. Many individuals who spend time near Muliaage Official Residence after dusk report an overwhelming sensation of quiet reverence that often shifts into unexplained goosebumps or cold chills. The consistency of these reported sightings and sensory anomalies has cemented the location's enduring reputation as one of the most mysteriously active sites in the region.

Muliaage is a fine example of early 20th-century colonial-tropical palace architecture. The building features white stuccoed masonry walls, wide wrap-around verandas, wrought-iron decorative railings, and green-painted tin roofs adorned with ornate wooden gables.

The exterior gates and perimeter wall feature intricate wrought-iron gates bearing royal insignia. The interior includes grand reception salons, executive offices, formal dining halls, and private presidential suites surrounded by lush courtyard gardens and manicured lawns in central Malé. The overall spatial layout of Muliaage Official Residence reflects classic Maldivian design principles that harmoniously integrate natural environment with structural stonemasonry. Surrounding pathways and boundary features were intentionally oriented to withstand marine weathering, utilizing traditional coral stone masonry techniques that have remarkably endured the passage of centuries.

Muliaage is located on Medhuziyaarai Magu in central Malé, directly adjacent to Medhu Ziyaaraiy and a short distance from Hukuru Miskiy. As an active official residence of the President of the Maldives, internal public tours are generally restricted to official state events.

However, visitors can admire the historic facade, manicured gardens, and ornate entrance gates from the public thoroughfare. The exterior is brightly lit at night, offering excellent photography opportunities for historic architecture enthusiasts visiting the capital city. Visitors planning a trip to Muliaage Official Residence should prepare adequately by checking local weather conditions and sea transport schedules. It is highly recommended to engage a knowledgeable local guide who can provide deeper cultural context and ensure that all visits remain respectful of local community traditions and heritage preservation rules.

As the backdrop of the Maldives' transition from sultanate to republic, Muliaage carries intense political history. The tragic exile of its original royal prince and decades of high-stakes political intrigue fuel its reputation as a palace of lingering royal ghosts. Ultimately, Muliaage Official Residence derives its iconic haunted reputation from the powerful synthesis of documented historical drama, unique architectural presence, and centuries of vibrant oral folklore that continue to captivate the imagination of locals and dark tourism enthusiasts alike.